Taking place after a gap of three years, the process is an indication that polls could be held in Valley
The Election Commission (EC) has begun the process of electoral rolls’ revision in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) after a gap of three years, in an indication that polls could be held in the Valley post its delimitation exercise. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K, the EC has given a timeline to complete various activities before the final publication of the electoral rolls on October 31.
“ ... In order to update the electoral rolls on the basis of the newly-delimited constituencies, so that all newly-eligible young electors can have the opportunity to get themselves enrolled, the exercise of Special Summary Revision with reference to the next qualifying date is required to be undertaken without further delay,” the letter said.
“Consequent upon amendment in Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act by Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, as notified vide the Gazette of India notification No. 67, dated 30 December 2021 and corresponding changes in the Registration of Electors Rule, 1960 notified on 17th June, 2022, four qualifying dates, namely, 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October are available in the law. In view of the reason explained in the preceding paragraph, the Commission has decided to order SSR, 2022 with respect to October 1, 2022 which is the next qualifying date for preparation of electoral roll, after conclusion of the ongoing pre-revision activities,” reads the letter.
“Accordingly, the Commission has directed to carry out the revision activity for Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls w.r.t 01.10.2022 as the qualifying date in UT of J&K,” it further states. The revision of electoral rolls couldn’t be undertaken in J&K due to August 5, 2019 constitutional changes and delimitation exercise.
“I am directed to state that as per existing policy, revision of electoral rolls with reference to 1 January of the coming year as the qualifying date is done in later part of each year in all States/UTs (normally in the last quarter of a year) so that final publication of the electoral rolls could be made in the first week of January of the succeeding year.
“However, due to various administrative reasons, this annual revision of electoral roll could not be undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir after SSR, 2019. In the meantime, delimitation exercise of constituencies in the Union. Territory was also in progress and the finally delimited constituencies were notified by the Delimitation Commission on 05th May, 2022,” the letter states. As per schedule announced by the ECI, the integrated draft electoral roll shall be published on September 01, 2019.
According to the poll-body, the claims and objections can be filed between September 01 to September 30 and they shall be disposed of by October 15. The final publication of electoral rolls shall be done on October 31, the schedule states.
Officials said the voters’ list will keep getting updated as there are four cut-off dates in a year now when those turning 18 can enrol themselves as voters.
Earlier, those turning 18 on or before the first day of the year, could apply to become voters on January 1. Now, those turning 18 on or before January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 can apply to become voters.
As per existing policy, the revision of electoral rolls with reference to January 1 of the coming year as the qualifying date is carried out in later part of each year in all states and union territories so that the final publication of the electoral rolls could be made in the first week of January of the succeeding year.
However, due to various reasons, the annual revision of electoral rolls could not be undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir after special summary revision, 2019.
In the meantime, an exercise to redraw the boundaries of constituencies in the UT was in progress and the finally delimitated segments were notified by the Delimitation Commission on May 5 this year.